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I grew up in a family of four children, and my mother raised us on her own after my father died. We moved 13 times before I was three. I speak to the need for a national affordable housing plan when I tell you how important stable housing became to our family. When my father died, my mother was able to access welfare, despite the fact that she owned her own house. This was essential to our family's well-being. We were able to have stable housing and be part of a community. When my mother was able to go back to work part-time, our family was still able to access dental benefits and medication coverage, despite the fact that she had begun working. My siblings and I also had access to OSAP grants, and we were therefore able to access post-secondary education, which allowed us to become meaningfully and gainfully employed members of society. I can tell you that all four of us now work, own our own homes, and take care of our mother.
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